KEY POINTS:
The driver of a crashed powerboat says a padded safety jacket saved his life during a race described as carnage and the worst in 20 years.
Graeme Pike's Vmax Yamaha flipped at 120km/h in one of four incidents in the final of the powerboat championships on the Waitemata Harbour on Saturday.
"If it wasn't for our safety gear and that, I definitely wouldn't be here, there's no doubt about that."
Pike said the steering of the 7m vessel broke during his last race lap.
The boat barrel-rolled and he was slammed into the steering wheel with such force it left an imprint in bruises on his chest.
In his first accident in 25 years of racing, Pike blacked out after hitting the water. He came to as a rescue diver, who jumped from a helicopter, came to his aid.
His co-driver, former All Black Laurence Hullena, who worked the throttles, escaped largely unscathed.
Pike said he had backed off the pace before the crash because of the large number of incidents during the race. "I'd seen a couple of flips," he said. "I could see it unfolding, I actually backed off ... I wanted to bring [my boat] home without breaking it and on the last lap she was the big barrel roll."
Race water safety officer Calvin Hicks said the event was the last of the season and teams were racing hard because championship points were at stake.
He said three boats flipped causing injury and another competitor was hurt when their boat went into a 90 degree slide.
"We call it in powerboating carnage - it was a bad day," said Hicks. "One of the guys who has been involved as a safety officer for 20 years said we've never ever had that many accidents."
He said the worst injured was Offshore Powerboat Racing president Grant Valder, who needed hand surgery after his Pro Floors Racing flipped during a practice run.
Hicks said all competitors were equipped with safety gear, passed an international standard test and paramedics were on the course.
He said the water was choppy but well within the conditions required for racing.
Hicks said the sport was growing in popularity, with 40 competing on Saturday, and the increased number of competitors raised the likelihood of a crash.
For next year, organisers were considering dividing the competitors into two groups.
And despite the injuries he sustained, Pike said he would be in the line-up.
